On October 4, 2024, the Biden Administration announced that it will not extend the parole term for participants in the CHNV private sponsorship program, which was designed for migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Venezuela. This decision affects approximately 530,000 migrants who were granted legal status for two years under the program launched in October 2022. The first group losing their status will be Venezuelans, starting this month [7cd123cb]. Critics of the decision have described it as cruel and counterproductive, arguing that it is likely to increase illegal migration and harm the U.S. economy [7cd123cb]. The article emphasizes the need for an extension of legal status for these migrants and highlights the potential political implications of this decision [7cd123cb].
In contrast, President Biden recently extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for another 18 months, allowing approximately 300,000 Haitians already in the United States to benefit from this decision. The TPS extension comes as Haiti continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis, including rampant gang violence and food insecurity [fea46822]. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed that TPS for Haiti has been extended from August 4, 2024, to February 3, 2026 [59d39537]. This extension also allows an estimated 309,000 additional Haitians to file applications for TPS [59d39537].
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security has extended TPS for Yemeni citizens for another 18 months, allowing them to stay in the U.S. with work authorization until February 2026 [119a04b6]. Immigration advocates are calling for a permanent immigration solution for TPS holders, arguing that TPS should not be a temporary fix but a pathway to permanent residency [119a04b6]. The extension for Yemeni citizens comes amid calls for the U.S. government to provide more support for Yemeni citizens affected by the ongoing war [119a04b6].
The juxtaposition of these immigration policies highlights the complexities and challenges of the Biden Administration's approach to immigration reform. While the administration has taken steps to protect certain groups through TPS, the decision not to extend legal status for CHNV program participants raises questions about the overall coherence and effectiveness of U.S. immigration policy [7cd123cb].